B i o g r a p h y
B i o g r a p h y
B i o g r a p h y
Joshua R. Jacobson holds a Bachelors degree in Music from Harvard College, a Masters in Choral Conducting from the New England Conservatory, a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Cincinnati, and a Doctor of Humane Letters honoris causa from Hebrew College. Before retiring in 2018, Dr. Jacobson served 45 years as Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Northeastern University, including nine years as Music Department Chairman and six years as the Bernard Stotsky Professor of Jewish Cultural Studies. He is also Visiting Professor and Senior Consultant in the School of Jewish Music at Hebrew College. He is also the founder and director of the Zamir Chorale of Boston, a world-renowned ensemble, specializing in Hebrew music. He has conducted workshops on choral music for various groups, including the American Choral Directors Association, and has guest conducted a number of ensembles, including the Boston Pops Orchestra, the Bulgarian National Symphony and Chorus, the New England Conservatory Orchestra and the Boston Lyric Opera Company. He has also written articles on various aspects of choral music, and over one hundred published compositions and arrangements. In 1989 he spent four weeks in Yugoslavia as a Distinguished Professor under the auspices of the Fulbright program. In 1994 Hebrew College awarded him the Benjamin Shevach Award for Distinguished Achievement in Jewish Educational Leadership, in 2004 the Cantors Assembly presented him with its prestigious “Kavod Award,” in 2016 Choral Arts New England presented him the Alfred Nash Patterson Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 2018 Chorus America selected him for its Distinguished Service Award. Prof. Jacobson is past President of the Massachusetts chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. He is the conductor and host of the PBS film, Zamir: Jewish Voices Return to Poland. His book, Chanting the Hebrew Bible: The Art of Cantillation, published by the Jewish Publication Society in 2002, was a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award. He is co-author of Translations and Annotations of Choral Repertoire—Volume IV: Hebrew Texts, published by earthsongs in 2009.
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Prof. Jacobson’s articles have appeared in The Choral Journal, the American Choral Review, The Journal of Synagogue Music, Encyclopedia of Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity, Encyclopedia Judaica, Studies in Jewish Civilization, Yale University Institute of Sacred Music Colloquium, The Musical Quarterly, and others. His compositions, arrangements and editions have been performed by ACDA honors choirs, by the Boston Pops and Tanglewood Festival Chorus, and by the St. Olaf College Choirs, among others. His music is published by Transcontinental, ECS, Broude Brothers and Earthsongs. He has guest lectured at Harvard, Brandeis, Yale, and many other schools. In addition to his specialization in Jewish music, he has conducted many of the standard choral-orchestral masterworks, including Bach’s Johannespassion, Beethoven’s Mass in C, Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s Die Schöpfung, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Mozart’s Requiem, Orff’s Carmina Burana, Poulenc’s Gloria, Schubert’s Mass in E-flat, Thompson’s A Peaceable Kingdom. He has also prepared Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony for Daniel Barenboim and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Mahler's Second Symphony for Zubin Mehta and the I. P. O., Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms for Gary Bertini and the Jerusalem Symphony, Schoenberg’s A Survivor from Warsaw for Piero Bellugi and the New England Conservatory Orchestra. In 2011 Jacobson launched "Middle Eastern Harmonies," a program bringing together on stage Jewish and Arab music and musicians. He has performed the program for diverse audiences throughout New England.
Here are excerpts from some press reviews. Richard Dyer wrote in the Boston Globe (June11, 2002) “Jacobson has a gift for programming that is instructive and entertaining, and more often than not, the Zamir Chorale performs works that music lovers would be unlikely to hear anyplace else.” Philip Greenfield in the American Record Guide (March/April, 2002), “The Zamir Chorale of Boston has become America’s foremost Jewish choral ensemble.” Kevin Gabriel in The Worcester Telegram and Gazette (March 25, 1996), “Jacobson led polished performances that emphasized clarity and balance. And the chorale’s professionalism was everywhere evident, particlularly in its unflagging attention to detail.”
Joshua R. Jacobson holds a Bachelors degree in Music from Harvard College, a Masters in Choral Conducting from the New England Conservatory, a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Cincinnati, and a Doctor of Humane Letters honoris causa from Hebrew College. Before retiring in 2018, Dr. Jacobson served 45 years as Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Northeastern University, including nine years as Music Department Chairman and six years as the Bernard Stotsky Professor of Jewish Cultural Studies. He is also Visiting Professor and Senior Consultant in the School of Jewish Music at Hebrew College. He is also the founder and director of the Zamir Chorale of Boston, a world-renowned ensemble, specializing in Hebrew music. He has conducted workshops on choral music for various groups, including the American Choral Directors Association, and has guest conducted a number of ensembles, including the Boston Pops Orchestra, the Bulgarian National Symphony and Chorus, the New England Conservatory Orchestra and the Boston Lyric Opera Company. He has also written articles on various aspects of choral music, and over one hundred published compositions and arrangements. In 1989 he spent four weeks in Yugoslavia as a Distinguished Professor under the auspices of the Fulbright program. In 1994 Hebrew College awarded him the Benjamin Shevach Award for Distinguished Achievement in Jewish Educational Leadership, in 2004 the Cantors Assembly presented him with its prestigious “Kavod Award,” in 2016 Choral Arts New England presented him the Alfred Nash Patterson Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 2018 Chorus America selected him for its Distinguished Service Award. Prof. Jacobson is past President of the Massachusetts chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. He is the conductor and host of the PBS film, Zamir: Jewish Voices Return to Poland. His book, Chanting the Hebrew Bible: The Art of Cantillation, published by the Jewish Publication Society in 2002, was a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award. He is co-author of Translations and Annotations of Choral Repertoire—Volume IV: Hebrew Texts, published by earthsongs in 2009.
​
Prof. Jacobson’s articles have appeared in The Choral Journal, the American Choral Review, The Journal of Synagogue Music, Encyclopedia of Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity, Encyclopedia Judaica, Studies in Jewish Civilization, Yale University Institute of Sacred Music Colloquium, The Musical Quarterly, and others. His compositions, arrangements and editions have been performed by ACDA honors choirs, by the Boston Pops and Tanglewood Festival Chorus, and by the St. Olaf College Choirs, among others. His music is published by Transcontinental, ECS, Broude Brothers and Earthsongs. He has guest lectured at Harvard, Brandeis, Yale, and many other schools. In addition to his specialization in Jewish music, he has conducted many of the standard choral-orchestral masterworks, including Bach’s Johannespassion, Beethoven’s Mass in C, Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s Die Schöpfung, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Mozart’s Requiem, Orff’s Carmina Burana, Poulenc’s Gloria, Schubert’s Mass in E-flat, Thompson’s A Peaceable Kingdom. He has also prepared Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony for Daniel Barenboim and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Mahler's Second Symphony for Zubin Mehta and the I. P. O., Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms for Gary Bertini and the Jerusalem Symphony, Schoenberg’s A Survivor from Warsaw for Piero Bellugi and the New England Conservatory Orchestra. In 2011 Jacobson launched "Middle Eastern Harmonies," a program bringing together on stage Jewish and Arab music and musicians. He has performed the program for diverse audiences throughout New England.
Here are excerpts from some press reviews. Richard Dyer wrote in the Boston Globe (June11, 2002) “Jacobson has a gift for programming that is instructive and entertaining, and more often than not, the Zamir Chorale performs works that music lovers would be unlikely to hear anyplace else.” Philip Greenfield in the American Record Guide (March/April, 2002), “The Zamir Chorale of Boston has become America’s foremost Jewish choral ensemble.” Kevin Gabriel in The Worcester Telegram and Gazette (March 25, 1996), “Jacobson led polished performances that emphasized clarity and balance. And the chorale’s professionalism was everywhere evident, particlularly in its unflagging attention to detail.”
Joshua R. Jacobson holds a Bachelors degree in Music from Harvard College, a Masters in Choral Conducting from the New England Conservatory, a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Cincinnati, and a Doctor of Humane Letters honoris causa from Hebrew College. Before retiring in 2018, Dr. Jacobson served 45 years as Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Northeastern University, including nine years as Music Department Chairman and six years as the Bernard Stotsky Professor of Jewish Cultural Studies. He is also Visiting Professor and Senior Consultant in the School of Jewish Music at Hebrew College. He is also the founder and director of the Zamir Chorale of Boston, a world-renowned ensemble, specializing in Hebrew music. He has conducted workshops on choral music for various groups, including the American Choral Directors Association, and has guest conducted a number of ensembles, including the Boston Pops Orchestra, the Bulgarian National Symphony and Chorus, the New England Conservatory Orchestra and the Boston Lyric Opera Company. He has also written articles on various aspects of choral music, and over one hundred published compositions and arrangements. In 1989 he spent four weeks in Yugoslavia as a Distinguished Professor under the auspices of the Fulbright program. In 1994 Hebrew College awarded him the Benjamin Shevach Award for Distinguished Achievement in Jewish Educational Leadership, in 2004 the Cantors Assembly presented him with its prestigious “Kavod Award,” in 2016 Choral Arts New England presented him the Alfred Nash Patterson Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 2018 Chorus America selected him for its Distinguished Service Award. Prof. Jacobson is past President of the Massachusetts chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. He is the conductor and host of the PBS film, Zamir: Jewish Voices Return to Poland. His book, Chanting the Hebrew Bible: The Art of Cantillation, published by the Jewish Publication Society in 2002, was a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award. He is co-author of Translations and Annotations of Choral Repertoire—Volume IV: Hebrew Texts, published by earthsongs in 2009.
​
Prof. Jacobson’s articles have appeared in The Choral Journal, the American Choral Review, The Journal of Synagogue Music, Encyclopedia of Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity, Encyclopedia Judaica, Studies in Jewish Civilization, Yale University Institute of Sacred Music Colloquium, The Musical Quarterly, and others. His compositions, arrangements and editions have been performed by ACDA honors choirs, by the Boston Pops and Tanglewood Festival Chorus, and by the St. Olaf College Choirs, among others. His music is published by Transcontinental, ECS, Broude Brothers and Earthsongs. He has guest lectured at Harvard, Brandeis, Yale, and many other schools. In addition to his specialization in Jewish music, he has conducted many of the standard choral-orchestral masterworks, including Bach’s Johannespassion, Beethoven’s Mass in C, Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s Die Schöpfung, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Mozart’s Requiem, Orff’s Carmina Burana, Poulenc’s Gloria, Schubert’s Mass in E-flat, Thompson’s A Peaceable Kingdom. He has also prepared Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony for Daniel Barenboim and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Mahler's Second Symphony for Zubin Mehta and the I. P. O., Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms for Gary Bertini and the Jerusalem Symphony, Schoenberg’s A Survivor from Warsaw for Piero Bellugi and the New England Conservatory Orchestra. In 2011 Jacobson launched "Middle Eastern Harmonies," a program bringing together on stage Jewish and Arab music and musicians. He has performed the program for diverse audiences throughout New England.
Here are excerpts from some press reviews. Richard Dyer wrote in the Boston Globe (June11, 2002) “Jacobson has a gift for programming that is instructive and entertaining, and more often than not, the Zamir Chorale performs works that music lovers would be unlikely to hear anyplace else.” Philip Greenfield in the American Record Guide (March/April, 2002), “The Zamir Chorale of Boston has become America’s foremost Jewish choral ensemble.” Kevin Gabriel in The Worcester Telegram and Gazette (March 25, 1996), “Jacobson led polished performances that emphasized clarity and balance. And the chorale’s professionalism was everywhere evident, particlularly in its unflagging attention to detail.”
JOSHUA JACOBSON
Sheet Music
Order sheet music from:
arrangements
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And the Angels Sing by Ziggy Elman, Transcontinental Publications, 2006.
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A Nign by Lazar Weiner, Transcontinental Publications, 2002.
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Abi Gezint by Abe Ellstein, Transcontinental Publications, 1994.
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Adijo Kerida (Sephardi folksong), World Music Press, 1992.
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Al Giv’ot Sheikh Abreik by Mordecai Zeira, World Music Press 2002.
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Al Hanissim by Dov Frimer, Transcontinental Publications, 1991.
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Al Kol Eileh by Naomi Shemer, Transcontinental Publications, 1995.
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Ale Brider (Eastern European Jewish folksong), World Music Press, 1997.
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Aleih Neiri by Chaim Parchi, Transcontinental Publications, N.Y., 1990
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Aneynu Trad. song for Simhat Torah) Transcontinental Publications
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Ani Ve’Atah by Arik Einstein, Transcontinental Publications, 1995.
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Ayyalath Hhein (traditional Yemenite melodies) , Transcontinental Publications, 1989.
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Around the Campfire (folksongs), World Music Press, 1993.
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Az Ikh Vel Zogn Lekho Doydi (Ashkenazi folksong), Transcontinental Publications (SATB or SA)
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Ba Mir Bistu Sheyn by Sholom Secunda, Transcontinental Publications, 2006.
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Boruch Atoh by Solomon Golub, Transcontinental Publications, 1994.
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Candle Blessings for Chanukah (traditional Hassidic chant), Transcontinental Publications, 1991.
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Chanukah in Santa Monica by Tom Lehrer, Transcontinental Publications, 2008. SATB
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Chanukah in Santa Monica by Tom Lehrer, Transcontinental Publications, 2014. TTBB
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Dance the Horah (Hey Harmonika by Alkoni and Mayim, Mayim by Amiran), earthsongs, 1999.
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Dime Rozina (Sephardic folksong), Transcontinental Publications, 1991.
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Dodi Li by Nira Chen, World Music Press, 1993.
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Don Amadi (Sephardic folksong),, Transcontinental Publications, 1991.
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Dona, Dona by Sholem Secunda, Transcontinental Publications, 1998.
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Dremlen Feygel by Leyb Yampolsky, Transcontinental Publications, 1995.
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Drey Dreydeleh by Abe Ellstein, Transcontinental Publications, 2003.
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Durme (Sephardic folksong),, Transcontinental Publications, 1990.
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El Nora Alilah (trad.) Transcontinental Publications
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Esta Rakhel (Sephardic folksong), Transcontinental Publications, 1991.
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HaKotel by Dov Selzer, Transcontinental Publications, 1995.
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Hanukah Tarantella by David Polansky, Transcontinental Publications (SATB or SA)
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L’Dor Vador by Meir Finkelstein, Transcontinental Publications, 1999.
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Lebn Zol Columbus by Aaron Perlmutter (based on an arrangement by Cathy Rand) , Transcontinental Publications, 1994.
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L’chu Neranana by Shlomo Carlebach, Transcontinental Publications, 2008.
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Makht Tsu Di Eygelekh, Holocaust lullabye by David Bagelman, self-published, 1999.
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Mah Nishtanah (traditional Ashkenazi chant) , Transcontinental Publications, 1992.
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Maoz Tsur by Abraham Binder, Transcontinental Publications, 1990.
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Maoz Tsur (Ashkenazi Italian chant), Transcontinental Publications, 1990.
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Mi Al Har Chorev (medieval chant), Transcontinental Publications, 1990.
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Mizmor L’David by Shlomo Carlebach, Transcontinental Publications, 2008.
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Morenica (Sephardic folksong), Transcontinental Publications, 1990.
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Mul Har Sinai by Moshe Wilenski, Transcontinental Publications, 1995.
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Nani Nani (Sephardic folksong), Transcontinental Publications, 1991.
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Noladti LaShalom by Uzi Hitman, Transcontinental Publications, 1991
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Niggun (Bratslav Hassidic chant), Transcontinental Publications, 2014
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Ocho Kandelikas by Flory Jagoda, Transcontinental Publications, 1990 (SATB or SA).
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Oseh Shalom by Jeff Kleper, Transcontinental Publications, 2008.
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Papir Iz Doch Vais (traditional Yiddish love song), Transcontinental Publications, 1990.
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Pit’chu Li by Robert Solomon, Transcontinental Publications, 1991.
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Por Que Llorax (Sephardic folksong), Transcontinental Publications, 1991.
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Psalm 114, Transcontinental Publications, 1989.
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Regle (Polish folksong), World Music Press, 1999.
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Rozhinkes mit mandln (from Shulamis) by Avrohom Goldfaden, earthsongs 2010
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Saleynu by Yedidyah Admon, Transcontinental Publications, 1995.
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Shalom Rav by Jeff Kleper, Transcontinental Publications, 2009.
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Shedemati by Yedidyah Admon, Earthsongs, 1998.
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Shehecheyanu by Tsvika Pik, Transcontinental Publications, 1993.
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Shemen Zach by Chaim Parchi, Transcontinental Publications, 1994.
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Sheyn Vi Di Levoneh by Joseph Rumshinsky, Transcontinental Publications, 1994.
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Shir LaShalom by Yair Rosenblum, Transcontinental Publications, 1995.
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Simonah Mi-Dimonah by Shemuel Weissfisch, Earthsongs, 1998.
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Tsen Brider by Martin Rosenberg, Transcontinental Publications, 1995.
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Untaneh Tokef by Yair Rosenblum, Transcontinental, 2013
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Yah Ribon Alam (Moroccan folksong), Transcontinental Publications, 1992.
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Yerushalayim (folksong), Transcontinental Publications, 1991.
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Yom Zeh LeYisrael/Yismach Mosheh (Sephardic folksongs), Transcontinental Publications, 1991.
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Zol Shoyn Kumen Di Ge’uleh by Shmuel Kaczerginsky, Transcontinental Publications, 1995.
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Zol Zain Sholem (Yiddish folksong),, World Music Press, 1994.
link to Transcontinental Music Publ.
editions
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Adon Olam by Salamone Rossi, Transcontinental Publications, 1993.
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Adon Olam by Giusppe Clave (or anon.) Transcontinental Publications
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Al Naharot Bavel by Salamone Rossi, Broude Bros., N. Y., 1984.
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Barechu by Salamone Rossi, Broude Bros., N. Y., 1987
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Bat Yiftach by Aharon Charlap, Transcontinental Publications
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Cantata Ebraica by Carlo Grossi, Transcontinental Publications, 1992.
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Canticum Hebraicum by Louis Saladin, Transcontinental Publications, 1992.
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Chanukah Candle Blessings and Maoz Tsur (trad. Ashkenazi chants, based on an arrangement by A. Binder) , Transcontinental Publications, 1990.
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Della Vita by Benedetto Marcello, Transcontinental Publications, 1990.
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Eftach Na Sefatai by Salamone Rossi for Transcontinental Publications, 1995.
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Elohim Hashiveinu by Salamone Rossi, Transcontinental Publications, 1993.
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Enosh by Louis Lewandowski, Broude Brothers, New York, 1992. (orchestration available from Transcontinental)
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Eyli Eyli by Jacob Sandler (arr. By S. Sargon), Transcontinental Publications, 2002.
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Halleluyah by Salamone Rossi, Broude Bros., N. Y., 1984.
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Halleluyah by Salomon Sulzer, Transcontinental Publications, 1991.
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Halleluyaw by Joseph Drechsler, Broude Bros., N. Y., 1992.
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Halleluyaw by Louis Lewandowski, Broude Bros., N. Y., 1998 (orchestration available from Transcontinental)
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Ha-Neiros Halawlu by Louis Lewandowski, Transcontinental Publications, 1989 (SATB or SA).
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Hava Nagila (trad, arranged by Daniel Faktori), Transcontinental Publications
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Hayoshevet Baganim by N. C. havron (arr. A. Levanon) , Transcontinental Publications, 2002.
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HaZamir by Leo Low, Transcontinental Publications
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Keter by Salamone Rossi, Broude Bros., N. Y., 1988
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Mah Tovu by Louis Lewandowski, Broude Brothers, New York, 1993. (orchestration available from Transcontinental)
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Min Ha-Metsar by Jacques Halévy, Transcontinental Publications
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Mir Trogen a Gezang by Leo Low, Transcontinental Publications
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Mizmor Lesodoh by Samuel Naumbourg, Transcontinental Publications
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Mizmorei Tehilim by Tsvi Avni, Transcontinental Publications, 1993.
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Odekha by Salamone Rossi, E.C. Schirmer, Boston, 2002.
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Psalm 121 by Jacques Halévy for Transcontinental Publications, 1996.
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Se’u She’awrim by Samuel Naumbourg, Transcontinental Publications, 1992.
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Shir HaMa'alot by Salamone Rossi, Broude Bros., N. Y., 1988
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Shir Lama'alot (Essa Einay) by Salamone Rossi, Transcontinental Publications
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Somakhti by Jacques Halévy, Transcontinental Publications
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Song of Songs by Yehezkel Braun, Transcontinental Publications, 1992.
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Three Hallel Psalms by Yehezkel Braun, Transcontinental Publications, 2013
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Torah-Musik (Vayhi Binso'a Ho-oron and Yehalelu Es Shem) by Salomon Sulzer, Transcontinental Publications
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Tov LeHodos by Louis Lewandowski, Broude Bros., N. Y., 1998
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Tov LeHodos by Franz Schubert, Broude Bros., N. Y., 1986.
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Zawcharti Lawch by Louis Lewandowski, Transcontinental Publications, 1992.
compositons
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Azamer Bishvokhin, E.C. Schirmer, Boston, 2002. (click to play)
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Chanukah Variations, Transcontinental Publications, 1989.
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Hamavdil, Covenant Publications, N. Y., 1970.
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Mi Zeh Yemallel, Transcontinental Publications, N.Y., 1990
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Shavu'ot, Transcontinental Publications, 1993